2004 Mercedes ML-Class Owner's Manual - Page 203

Operation Driving instructions The 4-ETS recognizes the situation and limits the torque for the front wheels by braking them. Simultaneously the torque for the rear wheels is increased. Driving across a hilltop Decelerate just ahead of a hilltop (do not select gear range N), to prevent the vehicle from speeding up too much after climbing a hill. Use the momentum of the vehicle to drive across the hilltop. Driving in this manner prevents the vehicle from jumping across the hilltop and thus loosing its forward momentum. Driving downhill Select gear range 1 on the automatic transmission ( page 121). Drive downhill observing the same rules as driving uphill ( page 202). The special LOW RANGE - ABS setting allows for precise and brief (cyclical) blocking of the front wheels, permitting them to dig into loose ground. Remember that the front wheels when stopped, slide across a surface, thus loose their ability to steer the vehicle. 1 20 in (50 cm) Before driving through water, determine its depth. It should not be deeper than approximately 20 inches (50 cm). Make sure you check the water bed. The ground surface may not be firm which may result in deeper waters than expected when driving the vehicle through it. Switch to LOW RANGE mode before driving through water ( page 125). Driving through water 203